#RealCollegeCA Survey Results
Spring 2025
Vinnie Wu
2025-11-13
About the Survey
In spring 2025, Fullerton College (FC) participated in the Real College California Survey, a state-wide survey of student’s basic needs in the California Community College System. The survey was adapted from the largest national survey of basic needs among college students with modifications made to reflect the unique characteristics and needs of the California Community College population.
The online survey was administered to all currently enrolled FC students. To encourage students to complete the survey, $250 incentives were offered to participants via random lottery. Overall, 1,164 FC students completed the survey with a response rate of about 6%, which is typical of campuswide surveys.
Overall, the survey respondents were representative. White students were over-represented (see Race/Ethnicity), as were female students (see Gender) and full-time students (see Full-Time Status).
The survey considered three areas of basic needs:
Food Insecurity: defined as the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the ability to acquire such food in a socially acceptable manner.
Housing Insecurity: defined as a broad set of challenges such as the inability to pay rent or utilities, or the need to move frequently.
Homelessness: defined as not having a stable place to live. Students were identified as homeless if they self-identified as homeless or if they identified living conditions that were considered signs of homelessness (e.g. couch surfing or living somewhere not meant for habitation).
Additionally, the survey investigated the extent to which students experienced at least one of these three basic needs insecurities.
Limitations and Considerations
As with any voluntary survey, the findings in this report should be interpreted with care. While the sample is generally representative of the Fullerton College student body, participation was self-selected, and certain groups may be underrepresented. Since the survey was distributed electronically, students needed access to the internet and a device to participate, which are factors related to basic needs access, so overall rates of need may be underestimated. In addition, participation was self-selected, meaning that those who chose to respond may differ from the broader student population.
The 2023 and 2025 surveys also included different samples of colleges and students, so results across years should be viewed as indicative of general trends rather than exact one-to-one comparisons. Together, these results provide valuable insights into student experiences, but they are best understood as indicators of broader patterns rather than exact population estimates.
Basic Needs Overview
From 2023 to 2025, rates of basic needs insecurity at FC increased by approximately 3.8 percentage points (pts) on average across all measures (food, housing, and homelessness). In particular, the share of students reporting any form of insecurity rose from 59% to 62% (see Figure 1).
When compared with the 2025 statewide averages, FC’s overall rates in 2025 are roughly 4.2 percentage points lower, with 62% of students experiencing at least one insecurity versus 67% statewide.
These findings suggest that while basic needs challenges have grown locally since 2023, FC continues to track slightly below statewide levels.
Figure 1: Basic Needs Insecurity Comparison to FC 2023 and Statewide in 2025
Demographic Differences
Summary
In this section, the extent to which Fullerton College students experience basic needs is disaggregated. In spring 2025, results revealed that while patterns generally mirror statewide findings, the magnitude of inequities varies across groups. Overall, basic needs insecurities affect the majority of Fullerton College students, underscoring the need for continued institutional commitment to equity-driven resource coordination, targeted outreach, and demographically responsive support for all students.
Race/Ethnicity
Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian students reported the highest rates of both food (65%) and housing insecurity (65%), followed closely by Middle Eastern and North African students (63% and 65%). Black or African American students continued to face elevated challenges across all basic needs areas, with nearly half experiencing food insecurity and two-thirds reporting at least one form of insecurity.
Latina/o/x students, who represent a large portion of the student body, also reported persistently high rates of food (43%) and housing (60%) insecurity. Although American Indian or Alaska Native, White, and Asian subgroups (South, East, and Southeast) reported comparatively lower rates, these still affected one-third to one-half of students.
Read the full report on race/ethnicity!
Gender
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Sexual Orientation
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Full-Time Status
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Additional Demographics
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Effects on Academic Performance
As consistent with the statewide data, students who reported lower academic grades were more likely to also report experiencing insecurities related to basic needs. This suggests that basic needs challenges may be linked to lower academic performance.
This underscores the importance of comprehensive basic needs support to promote student success. Notably, students experiencing homelessness were also more likely to withdraw from their classes, highlighting the urgent need for targeted outreach and resources for this group.
Figure 2: Rates of Basic Needs Insecurities by Self-Reported Grades
Basic Needs Support at FC
Overview
The Hornets Resource Center (HRC) and Food Bank play a vital role in supporting Fullerton College students by connecting them with food, housing, mental health, and other essential resources that promote well-being and academic success. The link below summarizes students’ awareness and use of these supports. Most respondents reported having heard of the HRC, and many of those students have already accessed its services, most commonly for food assistance, followed by housing and mental health support. At the same time, some students expressed uncertainty about eligibility or how to access available resources, suggesting opportunities to continue strengthening outreach and communication. Overall, the findings affirm the HRC’s growing impact and underscore the importance of continued collaboration to ensure that all students feel informed, welcomed, and supported in meeting their basic needs.